Gestational Diabetes

Yup, I gots it.

Gestational Diabetes is diabetes that only occurs during pregnancy. It affects between 2% and 7% of all pregnancies, therefore I have it. You know how I like to be in those low percentiles.

We're not exactly sure why gestational diabetes occurs. Sometimes the placenta gives off a hormone impeding insulin production or the action of the insulin. Sometimes we just don't produce enough insulin. Did you know pregnant women should create 3 times the normal amount of insulin? Basically it has to do with my body's inability to break down glucose, even in very normal levels.

It needs to be controlled because it's not good for baby or mama and left untreated can have some very negative effects over both our lifetimes.

What now? We're going to try and control it with diet and exercise. I have to journal everything I put into my mouth and I'm doing that fun finger pricking 8 times a day to test my glucose level.



8 times a day! Hopefully they'll knock that number down in the coming weeks. It's not really painful but you are pricking your finger enough to draw blood and it just doesn't feel natural. You know? I've found that I have to load the little pen and click it right away because if I hesitate with it against my finger I could take forever. Eventually I hope to stop flinching during the process. You would think that doing this 8 times a day would get me used to it real fast.



I'll meet with the diabetes counselor once a week to go over my food journal and my glucose levels and I go into the obgyn twice a week (from now until Peanut comes) to monitor the baby. I get to sit in a chair and do a non-stress test among other things. I will not be bringing B with me as he was with me for the first non-stress test and he made me laugh.. and then I got the giggles... and then I was laughing so hard I was crying. The nurse actually came back in because the monitors were making such a loud noise and my test went all haywire from my belly jiggling while I gasped for air.

So that's where we are. My diet is actually not changing too drastically besides the elimination of dessert. I pretty much already follow most of the guidelines. Oh and the fact that I can't have fruit or milk for breakfast which really throws me off. I've never counted carbs before so it's been really interesting.

I'm pretty sure I can't have any more bacon-wrapped chocolate-covered oreos. Or chocolate-chipotle brownies. Or all you can eat pasta. Or cheese biscuits.

Or Frostings cupcakes which I have had a mean craving for.

Oddly enough I feel like baking. It's comforting and I did it all during weight watchers too. I have no idea why. So, if you live in the area you can expect some treats because they certainly can't stay here!

Now go out and have something sweet and/or full of carbs for me. Please and thank you.